Five Reasons To Visit India

India is a destination that is growing in popularity amongst travellers; the country is steeped in layers of history, contrasts, spirituality, and excellent food. In case you need further enticement, here are a few reasons why you should make India your next holiday destination. No two visits to India are the same, so your visit is certain to be unique even if you visit major tourist attractions.

Great Value

Most backpackers have found that India is a great place to visit on a budget. Don’t be swayed by rumours of dirty hotel rooms; the backpacker hostels are clean, modern, and welcoming. You can travel to India on a tight budget, or you can stay in some of the lavish palace hotels if you have more funds available. If you’d like to really immerse yourself in the culture, opt for a guesthouse or homestay option so you can interact with the locals.

Great People

If you are open to homestay accommodation, you will be treated like royalty. The Indians have a saying, “Athithi Devo Bhava,” which means “the guest is God.” They consider it a huge honor to have guests in their home and will go out of their way to make you feel welcome. You may be a little blown away by the hospitality and genuine kindness of the locals. You may find you form such a close bond with your host family that you will return just to visit them.

Great Food

You might think you know Indian food from the various curry restaurants you’ve visited at home, but you have never experienced Indian cuisine quite like this. You won’t find a rogan josh, tikka masala, or a korma here. Street food is spicy, savory, or sweet, and available for less than $1. Creamy, but moderately spicy, curries are a specialty of North India, while the Southern curries are spicier, and characterized by the use of coconut, seafood, and rice. As most Hindus are vegetarian, this is a paradise destination for non-meat eaters.

Great Spirituality

India is a melting pot of different religions, the most prominent including Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Jainism, and Buddhism. Due to the many religions in India, you are also likely to come across many temples and religious sites, no matter which city you visit. Each temple has its own history, spirituality, and dedicated deity. The Kamakhya Temple, located in the Western part of Guwahati, Assam, is dedicated to Kamakhya, the Hindu goddess of Desire.

Great Cities

No trip to India is complete without experiencing the utter chaos of city life. Endless traffic jams, crowded streets, delays, incessant honking of horns, swerving motorbikes, and invasions of personal space are practically a universal staple of big cities. If you save a visit to a city for after you’ve visited a rural village, you can really see how far India has come in its growth to modernization. It will stand out to you more when you capture pictures of the two contrasting habitats.